J. Y. Park expresses resentment over cult allegations and religious criticism

Singer J. Y. Park stated on the YouTube channel 'First Fruits' that he feels "resentful and wronged" by cult allegations. During a video released on the 13th, he claimed that such persecutions help suppress sinful desires and serve as a catalyst for his faith.

Singer J. Y. Park has expressed his frustration regarding the religious controversies surrounding him. He stated that he feels "resentful and wronged," noting that when he attempts to evangelize to those around him, most do not accept it and instead criticize him.

On the YouTube channel 'First Fruits,' a video titled "How to Commit Fewer Sins" was released on the 13th. In the video, J. Y. Park studies Bible verses and explains his interpretations, sharing his thoughts on the difficulties encountered during religious life and the religious criticism he faces.

He first mentioned the difficulty of evangelism. "Even if you evangelize hard to the people around you, do you not succeed with only one out of ten people?" J. Y. Park asked, adding, "The other nine do not accept it no matter how hard you try. It doesn't end there. Rather, those people stab you in the heart from behind." He suggested that in the process of sharing his faith, he faces not only rejection but also criticism and negative perceptions.

J. Y. Park confessed that it is deeply painful to hear people around him say, "He must have fallen into a cult. He's strange." However, he explained that in the process of accepting such situations through faith, a change occurs within him. "That is when it is said that the sinfulness of the body dies. Isn't it amazing?" he said, offering the interpretation that persecution serves as a catalyst to suppress personal desires.

He specifically appealed his sense of injustice by directly mentioning the religious criticism directed at him. "When I hear stories like 'J. Y. Park is a cultist. If you go there, this and that happens,' I feel so resentful and wronged," J. Y. Park said. He claimed that as he receives more criticism, "the bad thoughts that usually come from the body do not come out at all," asserting that negative urges decrease as criticism increases.

He connected this experience to the suffering of Jesus. J. Y. Park interpreted that "the unfair persecutions Jesus received helped Him not to sin." He continued that while hearing unfair stories usually leads to anger or thoughts of deviation, for him, it brings a mindset of "Let's see. I must prove it through my life," rather than thoughts like "I should drink more" or "I should go out and play." He emphasized an attitude of proving the sincerity of his faith through his life rather than responding to external criticism with rebuttal or retaliation.

In a lecture released on the 3rd, J. Y. Park also directly addressed the controversy surrounding the religious group he operates. At the time, he claimed that he is facing full-scale persecution, noting that accusations of being a cult are being made regarding them. He also stated his position that rather than engaging in debates over doctrine or responding with organized comments, the problem should be left to God.

Previously, in this past September, he drew attention by revealing that his church includes members from the Catholic Church, Presbyterianism, and Baptist Christianity, as well as members from Shincheonji. At that time, J. Y. Park countered that his church should not be identified with Shincheonji simply because there is a member from Shincheonji. He further claimed that 'First Fruits' is a church with clear roots and theological background. However, as the past religious history of members and the doctrinal nature of the organization itself are separate issues, these remarks should be viewed as the explanation provided by J. Y. Park's side.

This is not the first time J. Y. Park's religious controversies have surfaced. In 2018, when suspicions were raised regarding a connection to the Salvation Sect, he drew a line, stating that his Bible study group has no relationship with the Salvation Sect organization. When appearing on the MBC entertainment program 'Radio Star' in 2020, he also explained that it was a Bible study group not affiliated with any specific church or denomination.

Since then, 'First Fruits' has expanded its scale and is reported to be conducting worship and meetings in eight regions both domestically and internationally, including Seoul, Busan, and LA in the United States. As J. Y. Park's activities to spread his religious beliefs continue, the cult allegations he has directly mentioned repeatedly become a matter of public interest. In this video, J. Y. Park expressed his stance of accepting the criticism directed at him as a means to protect his faith, while not hiding his resentment.

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